"As a friend, I am so proud of you": McLaren says goodbye to Taylor Barnard

NEOM McLaren bid farewell to the electric racing series at the final race of the 2024/25 Formula E season in London. This marked the end of the Formula E journey for most team members, including Sam Bird. Taylor Barnard, on the other hand, still seems to have his greatest successes ahead of him and has signed a contract with DS Penske. Bird and his team boss Ian James bid a special farewell to the "McLaren prodigy".

Barnard drove his first races for the British team in Monaco and Berlin in 2024. He came from Formula 2 at the time and found himself as a regular driver at McLaren shortly afterwards. 2024/25 was his first full season - and what a season it was! With 112 points, two pole positions and five podiums, the young Brit finished fourth in the drivers' standings. Not since Felix Rosenqvist has a driver made such a good start to the series in his first full Formula E season.

Bird: "It's been an honour to watch you grow"

Bird, on the other hand, had a final season without highlights and was overshadowed by his young team-mate. Instead of envy or frustration, however, the Formula E veteran has only calm words for Barnard: "As your friend, I am so proud of what you have been able to achieve, on and off the track" Bird's hand injury in Monaco 2024 was the reason why Barnard got into the Formula E car in the first place and subsequently surprised everyone.

Bird, who raced in Formula E for eleven seasons, is happy to have witnessed Barnard's rise: "It's been an honour to watch you grow from a boy to a man," emphasising Barnard's achievements off the track in particular: "You're now building your own house, you're in a wonderful relationship and you have an incredible career ahead of you."

To Taylor, from an incredibly proud Sam. 🥹 pic.twitter.com/gIAhBa00tL

— NEOM McLaren FE (@McLarenFE) August 7, 2025

James: "Your future seems incredibly bright"

Team principal Ian James was instrumental in giving the McLaren junior his chance in Formula E: "Taylor, I remember the data that an engineer showed me recommending you as a driver with us. There was a certain something there that was special for us as a team." You wouldn't be wrong, Barnard went on to become the most successful McLaren driver in Formula E history within 19 races.

"This season has been spectacular, to say the least, and your future seems incredibly bright," says James, looking back on the eleventh Formula E season. Now he feels more like a part of something bigger: "I'm glad we got to play at least a small part in your journey." Rumour has it that Barnard turned down offers for Indycar and McLaren's WEC programme in order to stay in Formula E.

"Your future is looking incredibly bright."

Ian offers some words for Taylor. 🥰 pic.twitter.com/Ndcb6fsqe8

- NEOM McLaren FE (@McLarenFE) August 7, 2025

While nothing has been officially confirmed yet, we can assume that we will see Barnard again at the pre-season test for season 12 in October this year. If the rumours are to be believed, it will be as a team-mate of Max Günther at DS Penske.